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n. pl. jun·cos or jun·coes Any of various sparrows of the genus Junco of North and Central America, having predominantly gray plumage, a gray or black head, and white outer tail feathers. [Ultimately (either via Early Modern English junco, the reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus, which inhabits marshes and reedbeds), or obsolete Spanish junco ave, a bird of the West Indies with a very long and narrow tail) from Spanish junco, rush (plant of the genus Juncus), from Old Spanish, from Latin iuncus; see JONQUIL.] |
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